1 John 3:1-3
1 “See how great a love the Father has given us, that we would be called children of God; and in fact we are. For this reason the world does not know us: because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope set on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”
Verse 1: John is urging us to take a moment and truly grasp the immense love that the Father has poured out on us. It is a love that goes beyond measure, a love that lavishes upon us. And because of this love, we are not just called children of God, but we truly are His children. This is a remarkable truth that sets us apart from the world. The world may not understand or recognize us because it does not know God, but we have been adopted and loved by him.
Verse 2: John addresses the believers as dear friends, emphasizing the close relationship they have with one another. While we may not fully comprehend what we will become, we do know that when Christ appears, we will be transformed to be like him with a brand new body.
Verse 3: Having this hope in Christ, the hope of being transformed and seeing him as He is, reveals the true children of God amidst the Gnostic unbelievers. Those who hope in Christ have received the gospel.
